Not sure if I got lucky or what, but this is indeed possible to write everything yourself and get approved. Just wanted to get a word out there, if you feel like you can do it yourself - then go for it! I think an attorney is best for weaker cases, but if you've got some decent pubs/citations, good letters and perhaps awards or patents that were used by someone - go for it!
That's how I did everything. Took me almost 6 months from initiation to filing, bought a DIY kit and just pulled my evidence together. Have 20+ pubs (7 - 1st author), 160+ citations (115 independent), a DoD award (small one but I am a PI) and 7 strong letters (2 independent). I also work in a "desired" research field in a relatively famous non-profit institution. So I drafted the cover letter based on the DIY kit, but in the end I realized that the template wasen't perfect and just modified it according to my specific case. I ended up modifying it quite a bit. Sorry, CANNOT share the cover letter due to personal information, but having read the DIY kit anyone should be able to draft one for themselves. If you have strong evidence, you will have no problems EVEN if your cover letter is not perfect. After all, USCIS judges your professional qualities, not your cover letter writing abilities (as some lawyers want us to believe). If you wrote your own PhD dissertation, if you write research grants, if you plan and execute your own research experiments, I believe writing a cover letter won't be that hard. One thing though, I think persons with the cases not so strong may consider hiring a lawyer. I do believe that a strong cover letter may help weaker cases, but stronger cases should be OK either way.
Good luck everyone!
That's how I did everything. Took me almost 6 months from initiation to filing, bought a DIY kit and just pulled my evidence together. Have 20+ pubs (7 - 1st author), 160+ citations (115 independent), a DoD award (small one but I am a PI) and 7 strong letters (2 independent). I also work in a "desired" research field in a relatively famous non-profit institution. So I drafted the cover letter based on the DIY kit, but in the end I realized that the template wasen't perfect and just modified it according to my specific case. I ended up modifying it quite a bit. Sorry, CANNOT share the cover letter due to personal information, but having read the DIY kit anyone should be able to draft one for themselves. If you have strong evidence, you will have no problems EVEN if your cover letter is not perfect. After all, USCIS judges your professional qualities, not your cover letter writing abilities (as some lawyers want us to believe). If you wrote your own PhD dissertation, if you write research grants, if you plan and execute your own research experiments, I believe writing a cover letter won't be that hard. One thing though, I think persons with the cases not so strong may consider hiring a lawyer. I do believe that a strong cover letter may help weaker cases, but stronger cases should be OK either way.
Good luck everyone!